The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-18

any idea a. to special session, this probability
Ia being generally canvassed The Republicans |
are pushing ali important bills as rapidly As is |
judicious. they are decidedly against An extra
term II there is the responsibility will rest
on the Democrats, as great part of the time OF |
the regular session has been used by them IN
bnncombe on measures of secondary considera
ton to delay important legislation. AS il this
were not enough to defeat the purposes of hard,
earnest work. the Democrats have q calendar OF
duplicated bills that, as far as some of them are
concerned, will eventually lead to delayed con-
ferences In settling conflicting claims as to
precedence and merit. But il they can defer re-
ports on investigations into the management of
the State institutions it will be done, even If it
finally drives them to position directly against
a special session.
House and Senate measures yesterday suffered
from the absence OF several committees on in
spect.ng tours, and therefore, in Difference to the
wishes Of the absent members, bills in which
they are interested were postponed until their
return. The House used its time clearing off
the committee reports and advancing measures
to the third reading. The Senate also pursued
sitting process, and it is probable that at the
beginning of next week both houses will have no
excuse for not centering their efforts on salient
and needed features of legislation. In the
Senate the bill of Senator Bailey, providing for
the payment OF salaries to the county commits
sioners, township trustee and assessor, led to
determined contest to prevent its engrossment.
1t proposed to give to each Of these officers
$1,000 per year The amendments were directed
principally against the amount 1t was hard for
some Senators to let go of the idea of per diem
Tor the county commissioners, and few did
| not see why those of Marion county should be
favored over other commissioners They
wanted the present law to remain undisturbed,
| and while the $1,000 proposition all around
| would have failed, there a disposition to
| eeualize the salaries. Senator Winter took this
| view of the measure, and moved to amend to
give the commissioners 81, 600 each, the assessor
$1,000. and the trustee $780, substitute
| from Senator Bailey, placing the salaries with
out regard to the Office, at 81 800 each failed, and
| finally the bill went TO engrossment with the
Winter amendment
| While the militia bill was being discussed in
the House variety OF opinions was expressed
| in regard to the citizen sodery and their needs.
The speeches at times trayersed all the disturb
| ing conditions of society that would likely re-
| quire the presence of militia A sharp opposi-
| ton was made to the bill by the Knights OF
| labor Representatives especially. They fought
it at every point, and just previous to a call of
| toe roll on the previous question, Representa-
| alive Caven presented, by consent, a remon-
STRANGE from district assembly No log urging
| defeat of the bill. 1t stated that the district
| assembly believed that the military spirit
| which means pomp, display and coercion should
not be encouraged and foste red: that patriotic
people will always protect the country, and that
good laws, a clear and fair administration OF
| government, will insure a patriotic people,
The resolution following the remonstrance de-
clared that the district assembly named was
decidedly opposed to the passage of said meas
ure and earnestly requested the General Assem-
bly, not to pass any laws looking to the aid or
| encouragement of our State militia" When
the vote of so to % deciding that the previous
| question should not prevail afforded further
| opportunity for discussion, it was resumed with
| renewed vigor. But few representatives de-
chned the chance. and when the vote to concur
in the report of the committee was taken, the
| yeas and nays were again called. resulting in
1 favorable 4 q OF
dered engrossed.
| The House Committee and the Southern
Prison.
| Louisville Courier-Journal.
Upon arrival yesterday the committee dined
with Warden Howard, and at once started upon
a tour of inspection. During the afternoon the
old cell-rooms, the shops of the Jeffersonville
Boot and Shoe Company and the foundry were
mittee, said to a Courier-Journal reporter that
few of the cells inspected were neat and tidy, bu
the majority of them were very unclean. A.
the committee passed through the work shops
they questioned the prisoners in regard to the
treatment they received and the general manage
ment. Many complaints of alleged cruel treat
ment were made, and dissatisfaction was gen
eral at the paucity of religious instruction. Tbs
chapel is open for services but once each Sunday
and there is no Sunday-school Among Other
complaints was the following, made by an In
telligent-looking man about twenty seven years
old. This statement was made to the commit
tee. and taken down by the stenographer:
''My name is John Donahue. Last summer
was kept in the cage ty-six days on breat
and water, and when WAS taken out thirty e We
pound shackles were put on my limbs. Thu
shackles. with the chains, all weighed about III
pounds. The prison physician declared me in
! sane, and was put into the crazy -house. An
other physician however, the prison chaplain
pronounced me sane. and was taken out ] wa
then put back into the cage and kept there three
, months got food only when 1t was the pleasure
{ OF the guard to give it to me. was not allowed
, oven blanket but slept on the hard floor, will
the l75 pounds of iron on my limbs. On Angus
l3, 1885, escaped. but was captured the mex
l day and brought back. I was then kept in
cell week, when was again thrown into tn
. crazy house and kent there until an exposur
< was about to be made of the affair. Fearing al
investigation, the warden turned NE out, and
4 was put in the foundry, with a task of IL
9 molds day. was very weak and physi:all
f unable to do the work, and again / was OH
9 into the cage. Captain Howard the
f came TO me and said: You --- of
Q -, I'll make you do that task or Kill you
t After I had been out of the cage two months
. behaving myself we'll all the time / asked tina
d tobacco be allowed me, aad Howard replied
3 You - of 49,, you will nave to ear
! your prlVHegee-' 1 DaSo continued 10 Oenac
d myself. and am now treated better. The food
1 bad. Sometimes there is nothing on the tabl
b that can be eaten We get only one piece
. bread, four inches thick and four inches wild,
n 1t We ask for more it is not given rs.
. AS the committee was passing through tt
a foundry Mr.. Sinclair recognized in one of tt
II conyicts man whom he had not seen for tw Ell
d ty-one years. His name is Walker Rodman. an
l. he is forty-two years old. Mr.. Sinclair hs
y known him as young man just reaching ma
70 hood. The meeting was a cordial one
10 The committee finished their rounds about
g. o'clock p. and scattered some of them r
IL manning in JeffersonviIle. the remainder comii
re to Louisville.